Transcript: Matt Ryan Locker Room Interview

Quarterback Matt Ryan spoke to the Atlanta media Wednesday about Washington's defense and how the unit has moved on without one of its biggest players, Brian Orakpo

On the Redskins defense:

“It’s a good defense. I think London Fletcher is one of the better Mike linebackers in the league. He’s a veteran guy. He’s really like playing a d-coordinator out on the field. He’s very smart and gets them into a lot of good blitzes and coverages. They’re physical against the run. Their front seven is very stout against the run. Jim Haslett has always had a good blitz package. It’s going to be an important week for us to identify what they’re doing. They give you a lot of different looks and communicate really well.”

On their secondary giving up some big plays this year:

“They’ve been playing with a lead. One of the things you have to take in consideration is the type of games they’ve been in. Their offense has jumped out in a couple of those games, and gotten off to an early lead and forced people to throw the football quite a bit against them. I think that’s why sometimes statistics are a little skewed. They have some talented guys back there. DeAngelo Hall is a Pro Bowl caliber corner, and a guy we’ve played against a couple of times with two different teams in the Raiders and the Redskins. We know he’s capable of making some plays. I think sometimes games dictate statistics.”

On how they’ve compensated for the losses of LB Brian Orakpo and DE Adam Carriker:

“They’ve done a good job. Kerrigan, number 91, has stepped in and done a really nice job. He’s a really good player. He’s a talented guy and very physical, has a high motor, very active. I think their scheme has allowed them to keep pressure in terms of the pass game. The pass rush has been very good. They’ve been very stout against the run, so they’ve done a good job.”

On getting MVP talk after four games:

“After four games, you can’t worry about those things. I don’t really worry about it too much ever really. The biggest thing for me is to play well every week and do what we need to do to get a win. Other than that, I try not to pay attention to it.”

On there still being a lot of work to be done even though the team is 4-0:

“No question. One of the things that I think we’ve done a good job is we’ve figured out different ways to win, and that’s what you need to do. When we watch the film, we have a lot of things we need to do better. I think everybody has that mindset of coming in here and trying to constantly improve. When you’re here Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday that’s what it’s all about is trying to get better and play better the following week.”

“I think so. I think it’s one of those things that I’ve always had a lot of confidence in myself. Every year there are a couple of areas that you want to improve on and try and get better. I felt like that was one of them this offseason.”

On what he can attribute to being so effective this early in the season:

“I think collectively we’ve been effective. We’ve had a lot of guys that have stepped up in different games and made some plays. I think experience has a lot to do with it. This being my fifth year now, I’ve been through some ups and been through some downs and learned from both of them. I think I’m more experienced, and again, I have good players around me. Guys that aren’t afraid to go out and make plays. I think last week the last drive of the game is an example of that. Roddy has been a guy that’s made a ton of plays for us. I’m surrounded by good people.”

On what starting 5-0 would mean:

“I don’t really think about it too much in terms of the grand view, the big picture, the entire history of the organization. What it would mean for us right now is we’ve gotten off to a good start. We’ve got a lot of work to do before we get there and can’t think about how we’ll feel after this game. It’s all about trying to get ourselves prepared to play it.”

On OC Dirk Koetter’s impact on the offense:

“I think it’s been good. I think he’s done a great job early on this season. He’s a really good teacher and a very good play caller. He’s certainly put us in good position to make plays. I think he’s done a great job.”

On what it’s like for a running quarterback to take the shots that they take:

“I would have no idea. I don’t consider myself in that category. They’re tough, and they make it difficult for a defense. I know our guys it’s always an added element that they have to go against, so I’m not sure.”

On WR Roddy White and being secure in himself with a player like WR Julio Jones coming in:

“He is. Roddy knows he’s a very good player. He has a lot of confidence in himself, but he’s also one of the most unselfish guys on our team. It’s rare for one of your superstars to be like that in this day and age, but he is like that. I think a perfect example of it is the other day, Mike Turner catches a screen pass and Roddy is the one at the end of the run diving out there full extension to hold up Captain Munnerlyn for an extra second and he did that. The crazy part of it is Tony was doing it right before that. It’s just a good picture that we’ve got unselfish guys around here. We have that and it makes for great chemistry.”

On what stands out about White as a player:

“Physically, he’s got everything you want. He’s strong, he’s physical, he’s got great top end speed. He’s quick out of his cuts and has very good hands. His best attribute is he is an incredible competitor. Wants nothing more than to play well and to win. You would love to have tons of guys like that.”

On what trait you have to have to bring your team back:

“You have to have the belief that regardless of how games shake out if you keep it close you have a chance to win. You can’t flinch. You can’t worry about it. You can’t worry about what happened the first three and a half quarters of that game. You just have to go out there and execute when you have the opportunity to. That’s always the mindset that I’ve tried to take.”

On explosive plays in Koetter’s offense:

“I’ve said it for a number of years that explosive plays are created a lot of different ways. You look at last week, we had a sixty-yard touchdown pass that was maybe a yard behind the line of scrimmage. We also took five or six shots down the field, too. I think the thing that Dirk has done a great job of early on is mixing it up and keeping defenses off balance. Ultimately, that’s what you want as an offense.”